I've seen this subject posted several times, but none of the threads I read ever really got answered with something that was definitive.

I put the accelerator to the floor on my way to work trying to make it through the light before it turned red. Unfortunately, I was too far back and had to stop. Soon after, I noticed a burnt rubber smell coming inside the car. Within seconds, a plume of white smoke came up through the hood of the car on the driver's side. The plume of smoke didn't last long either.

I own a 2001 XK8 convertible with 42K miles on it. This is the 3rd time in the past 18 months this has happened. I have no idea what it is.

I did noticed the metal thermostat housing appears to be leaking antifreeze out of the top cap. Would it make sense this somehow leaks during a hard acceleration, or has someone figured out another reason for the burnt rubber smell and plume of white smoke?

 

Burnt rubber smell or burnt oil smell?

I have a 2000 XKR.

The boys on here pointed out that I probably had a cam cover leak and oil was dripping onto the exhaust.

I had a very small , hardly noticable plume of smoke out the left hood vent and a bit of an oily smell in the cabin

Could that be it?

Pete

 

First, you need to fix the coolant leak even if it is not the cause of your problem. Overheating these engines is a very bad thing! Is it overheating? Have you checked the coolant level? Do not rely on the temp gauge only. It is nothing more than a fancy idiot light, measuring only OK or "Holy Crap I'm hot!".

It is possible coolant is hitting the drive belt and causing it to slip. That would explain the burning rubber smell.

Pete's suggestion would be a good thing to investigate as well. Something is clearly not right and your two symptoms are not good ones to have.

 

Burnt rubber = belt. Almost certainly the alternator belt slipping under sudden duress. I suggest you change it - especially if you get a scream from the front end for a few seconds just after starting. It's caused by the force needed to turn the loaded alternator being greater than the belt's grip on the pulley.

Take the belt off and look for polished sections.